A Special Day With A Special Player

Had the honour to chat City and football with the greatest City player I’ve seen live yesterday when my wife and I were treated as VIP guests at the magician’s beech club he owns close to where he grew up and played football as a young boy.

I was gifting him some of his match worn shirts while he signed one for me from the 8-0 victory over Watford in 2019.

He gave the majority of his City shirts away so was I delighted to gift him a special shirt for him from our Champions League fixture at Real Madrid on 18th September 2012, Silva would receive a standing ovation from Real Madrid fans for his performance at the Bernabeu that night.

David grew up a Madrid fan as his father was a big supporter but he assures me he’s now as blue as they come !!

Such a humble down to earth guy who was happy to share some fantastic memories of a simply wonderful career on a day that will live long in the memory.

Thanks DavidView attachment 164247View attachment 164248View attachment 164249View attachment 164250View attachment 164251
Superb that, what an honour to meet Spanish Dave. Did he mention how his son is? He wasn’t well when he was born and Pep gave David as much time as be needed to look after his baby son.

Some great comments on here, one of the best of all time players not just for us but in the world.
 
Echo this and a cracking fella to boot.

I had some health issues a couple of years ago and Mark went out of his way to give me a call.

One of the first players that broke my heart when he left.
Nice story that. Joking aside, he wasn't the greatest of City players, but he was 100% and gave it all for that blue shirt. And like yourself, the 12/13 year old Cowboy was a bit gutted when he left us.
 
This guy re-wrote football for me.
No Silva, no KdB, as far as I'm concerned.
He showed what was possible on a football field.
Especially in England.

When he first came over to the Premier League, the idea of a diminutive technician not only having a free role in the middle but running every game from that position was largely unheard of. You'd get tricky types like Pires and Zola but they'd ultimately become wingers or forwards in rigid 4-4-2 systems.

Silva would surely get muscled off the ball too easily playing in the centre, and surely he wouldn't cope with the pace of the league? By the time he left, tiny creative midfielders were the norm. He paved the way for Cazorla, Nasri, Ozil, Mata, and Coutinho, and outshone them all in this country.

Even Ferguson tried to emulate what Silva was doing with Kagawa, and failed.

Can you remember the last time a new player was accused of "not coping with the physicality and pace of English football"? Silva set the template for players like him, more than dealt with the physicality of defensive midfielders in England, and eventually changed the pace of the English game, making it play to his rhythm instead.
 
Superb that, what an honour to meet Spanish Dave. Did he mention how his son is? He wasn’t well when he was born and Pep gave David as much time as be needed to look after his baby son.

Some great comments on here, one of the best of all time players not just for us but in the world.

He’s doing great David said and at the moment not into his football
 
Especially in England.

When he first came over to the Premier League, the idea of a diminutive technician not only having a free role in the middle but running every game from that position was largely unheard of. You'd get tricky types like Pires and Zola but they'd ultimately become wingers or forwards in rigid 4-4-2 systems.

Silva would surely get muscled off the ball too easily playing in the centre, and surely he wouldn't cope with the pace of the league? By the time he left, tiny creative midfielders were the norm. He paved the way for Cazorla, Nasri, Ozil, Mata, and Coutinho, and outshone them all in this country.

Even Ferguson tried to emulate what Silva was doing with Kagawa, and failed.

Can you remember the last time a new player was accused of "not coping with the physicality and pace of English football"? Silva set the template for players like him, more than dealt with the physicality of defensive midfielders in England, and eventually changed the pace of the English game, making it play to his rhythm instead.
Great post mate and couldn’t agree more.

I asked David who was his most difficult opponent he faced and he stated N'Golo Kanté when he was at Leicester City.
 
Another shirt gifted to the brilliant David Silva this weekend was his 2018/19 Premier League unwashed match worn shirt v West Ham United on 24th November 2018, Silva would captain the side and score the opening goal in a 4-0 victory.

Shirt originally donated by the brilliant Spaniard to support a Charity fundraiser held by then Hammers player Robert Snodgrass.

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As I wrote above... my Sister in law and her partner have a small restaurant and bar (Flippers) at the other end of the beach in Amadores. She often sees David. I told her I was jealous so she approached him for a chat the other day. She says he always has time for everyone. What a gent!

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After landing home from Puerto Rico a couple of days ago. I’m gutted I didn’t read this thread before and stalk David my whole
holiday!
 

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